Birmingham City University (BCU) students will have the opportunity to connect with writers, publishers, and the broader literary industry during the upcoming Birmingham Literature Festival. The event, taking place from 8–12 October, aims to provide students with firsthand insight into the professional landscape of literature.
Students can also volunteer at festival events and contribute to social media content related to the programme. Professor Gregory Leadbetter, Director of the Institute of Creative and Critical Writing at BCU, highlighted the festival's significance in bridging the gap between emerging literary talent and the industry.
"The Department of English and Media at BCU is proud to enjoy a close relationship with the festival," stated Professor Leadbetter, who also serves as Professor of Poetry and Course Director of the MA in Creative Writing at BCU. He emphasised the vital link between academic work and contemporary publishing.
Professor Leadbetter, who is participating in the festival, described it as having a "uniquely welcoming feel" and being a "wonderful testament to the power of good writing." He added, "This is a special occasion in contemporary literary culture, and it’s great to have our students involved with the festival more closely than ever for 2026."
Several festival events will be hosted on campus at BCU's Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, with some activities sponsored by the University. The programme features sessions such as ‘En Pointe, Off Kilter’ with Thomas Glave, ‘Pathetic Masculinity: Putting the Feeling into Fiction’ with Taylor Burns and Keiran Goddard, and ‘Writing Nature’ with Professor Leadbetter, Paul Evans, Brett Westwood, and Alys Fowler.
The University's connection to the festival also includes participation from its alumni. Graduates of BCU's MA in Creative Writing, including Martin Kennedy Yates and Kate Mascarenhas, are featured. Ayan Aden, the outgoing Birmingham Poet Laureate and a current BCU Gemmology student, is also part of the programme. This involvement underscores the creative talent within BCU and its ties to Birmingham's cultural scene.
